Halt leaks, security wings urged

FORMER Kitwe mayor Cosmas Bwalya has urged the investigative wings of Government to safeguard national security by halting the retrogressive trend by some “unscrupulous people” of leaking classified information.
Mr Bwalya said in a statement in Kitwe yesterday that there is need for police and other investigative wings to trace individuals leaking State secrets.
He said all involved in such criminal acts should be traced so that they face the law as they are not only a danger to only President Lungu but to national security.
He noted with sadness that some people leaking State secrets are those on oath of secrecy who have opted to betray the appointing authority.
“Not too long ago, a copy of the Draft Constitution was leaked to the United Party for National Development (UPND) by some people at the Ministry of Justice and the Presidential speech to Parliament was also leaked and published in one of the tabloids [The Post] on the very day the President read it in Parliament.
“The most unfortunate thing is that some of those leaking State secrets are those who have sworn the oath of secrecy and are now literally stabbing their appointing authority in the back and abusing the trust placed in them,” Mr Bwalya said.

He also called on civil servants to be loyal to the government of the day and avoid being used by some opposition leaders with “insatiable appetite for power”.
He said the civil service is heavily politicised and that it is hard to distinguish a political cadre from a civil servant.
Meanwhile, Mr Bwalya has urged all Zambians to observe today’s national day of prayer, fasting and repentance to commit the country to God.
“The day President Lungu has declared as a day of prayer, fasting and repentance must also provide all Zambians an opportunity to reflect upon the past from the time our country gained independence in1964,” Mr Bwalya said.